Rebelling with the Bad Boy

About the Book:

Rebelling With the Bad Boy (Most Likely To Book 3) by [Sarah Sutton]

Title: Rebelling with the Bad Boy
Series: Most Likely to #3
Author: Sarah Sutton
Release Date: February 28th, 2023
Genre: YA

It’s on my birthday that I realize the past sixteen years of my life haven’t really been mine.
From my outfits to my hairstyles and even to my love life, my parents have control over all of it. And instead of fighting, I live by my mantra: keep my head down and keep my mouth shut.

Until I’m paired with Brentwood High’s resident bad boy, Hudson Bishop. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe him. Intimidating. Scary. Panic-inducing. There’s a reason the school calls him the Grim Reaper. And when our principal pairs us together for a “buddy program,” he makes it perfectly clear he doesn’t want to be stuck with a stiff like me.

But when I’m voted Most Likely To: Stay A Prude by the elite crowd of the school, suddenly Hudson Bishop is more than just a bad boy—he’s a way out from underneath my mother’s thumb. He’s a path to rebellion, and despite all of the warning bells going off in my head, I take it.

Book Review:

Oh my gosh! This book was just amazing. I have loved every single book in the Most Likely To series, and this one did not disappoint. I loved learning more about Gemma and the Grim Reaper.

Gemma was such a fascinating character. I loved her layers and how she was trying to find herself. In a lot of ways, she had been stuck in a box, so it was fun to watch her find her voice and find Hudson.

Hudson was such a sweetheart. I loved him so much! He was struggling through a lot with expectations about who he was supposed to be. I loved him with his little sister especially because we got to see his softer side. This one made my heart hurt a little though with his story and how poorly everyone treated him. There’s mentions of bullying in this one, and some innuendos. Also, Hudson’s friend is referred to as they/them.

Get ready for some twists and turns as well. The Top Tier and their parents are honestly kind of awful, and we get to see more high school drama. I think one thing that is a bit frustrating is there aren’t a lot of good adult figures. In the book, Gemma’s mom has a change of heart, but she was acting like a jerk in some parts. But she had a redemption in the end.

I would definitely recommend this book! I read it like a day, and I loved it so much. I can’t wait to see Landon and Lacey’s side of the story 🙂

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Needing the Next-Door Neighbor

About the Book:

Needing the Next-Door Neighbor: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (California Dreamin' Book 6) by [Kristin Canary]

Title: A Match in the Making
Series: California Dreamn’ #6
Author: Kristin Canary
Publisher: Dreaming of You
Release Date: March 27th, 2023
Genre: Closed Door Romantic Comedy

My next-door neighbor, Ryan Rosche, is pretty much the perfect guy.

He’s a freaking doctor, for one.

Humble…

Mature (Did I mention he’s eleven years older than me?) …

And flat-out gorgeous.

If only he wasn’t also … my boss.

Look, if I wasn’t the nanny to his nieces, I’d be all. over. that.

But I’m in the middle of a personal crisis of sorts—a recent move, a public breakup, a foiled career—not to mention beholden to a successful CEO grandmother who is withholding my trust fund until I can become “respectable” in a way my mother never was.

Falling for my boss—blurring those lines—is just the sort of thing my mother would have done.

And I refuse to be anything like Pippa Montgomery.

Besides, even if it was respectable to date my boss, a hot mess like me could never hope to land this guy whose life is 100% together.

Someone like him could never want someone like me. Not long term, anyway. And I’m tired of being discarded.

But when I move into Ryan’s house to make my job easier, and ignite the chemistry of late-night reality TV watching, meal sharing, and helping him raise his nieces, how am I supposed to resist the good doctor’s charms?

It seems inevitable. This man is just a heartbreak waiting to happen…

Fans of Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair will love this closed-door, age gap, forced proximity, boss/nanny romantic comedy with lots of sizzle and spice, but no on-page explicit content. It follows Kennedy Matkin, Alexis Matkin’s younger sister.

Book Review:

This was such a cute book! This is only my second Kristin Canary book, but it was adorable. I’ve only read the first book in the series, but I was still able to enjoy this one.

I loved Kennedy! I think her sweetness and openness was awesome. Even though it made her seem a bit naive in some ways, it really showed how strong of a person she was. She had been hurt over and over again, but she was still willing to open herself up. And I loved seeing her with Ryan’s nieces. It was sweet how she was able to connect with them and help them.

Ryan was such a sweetheart! Even though you don’t get to see his side of things, you could tell he was such a nice guy. While I always love the grumpy sunshine trope, it was fun to read a book with such a nice male character. He wasn’t a pushover in any way, but he was just a genuinely kind guy who wanted to help his nieces.

Ryan and Kennedy were so sweet together! They balanced each other and helped the other person relax. I love how they supported each other even though a lot of things weren’t easy. It was sweet to see them working so well together too. Because Kennedy was Ryan’s nanny in some ways it was like they were together before they were actually together.

I would definitely recommend this book! The side characters are lovely, and I love the sister relationship. It is a clean rom com with some innuendos.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Cruise (Shipped)

About the Book:

Cruiseshipped: A small-town, forced-proximity, sweet romcom (Getting Shipped! Book 6) by [Savannah Scott]

Title: Cruise (Shipped)
Series: Getting Shipped #6
Author: Savannah Scott
Release Date: March 1st, 2023
Genre: Romantic Comedy

If I’m going to be stuck with anyone, at least it’s a hot fireman with that smile I can’t seem to forget.

Brooks and I met three years ago when my best friend’s boyfriend held a party to propose to her in front of all their friends — in the middle of his goat farm.

Yes. You heard me. His goat farm.

When my eyes traveled across the driveway that night and landed on Brooks, I didn’t count to ten. I didn’t consult the saints. I took off at a casual pace, walking straight toward him. my hips swaying and my head held high. How could I not? Here in the middle of podunk Ohio stood the most captivating man I’d ever laid eyes on.

There’s one small problem. Brooks fights fires in a small midwestern town. I live in Boston with my family and all the culture and opportunities a big city has to offer. So, after the best weekend of my life, I returned home, single. And I put him out of my mind–mostly. At least I tried to.

But, now Brooks is here, on this cruise. And just like before, I can’t keep my eyes off him, especially when he’s singing the Ohio state theme song off-key, with hand motions, on the stage of the dueling pianos show. Or when he’s lounging by the ship’s pool in only his board shorts. Ay. Mami. Is it hot in the Caribbean, or is it just that fireman?

I need to pull it together before I make the worst mistake of my life–falling in love with a man who’s committed to living a thousand miles away from me.

Book Review:

I am in love with Savannah Scott’s books! They are so cute and fun, and I love the crazy seniors. This one was adorable as well, and we finally get to see Gabriela and Brooks’ HEA!

I loved getting to see more of Brooks’ character. He had always been the guy who followed the rule and did the right thing, and now, he was having a vacation fling with Gabby. It was fun to see him loosen up with Gabby and also open up to her. He had to decide what he wanted to do, and whether or not a relationship with Gabby is worth the risk.

I loved Gabby! She was such a fun character. Her no filter and vibrant personality totally worked with Brooks. It was fun to read about a character who was so fearless. And I loved her with Brooks. They balanced each other so well. He grounded her without clipping her wings.

The story in this one was so much fun! All the crazy seniors are back along with Chris. I loved Chris in this one by the way, and I cannot wait for his book. I have no idea who will fit with his personality, but he needs someone amazing!

I would definitely recommend this book and the whole series! It can be read stand-alone, but I think it’s much more fun to read as a series. It is a clean rom com perfect for a light, low stress read.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

A Match in the Making

About the Book:

A Match in the Making (The Matchmakers Book #1) by [Jen Turano]

Title: A Match in the Making
Series: The Matchmakers #1
Author: Jen Turano
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: February 21st, 2023
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America’s most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the employ of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond irritating.

Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn’t expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention–and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.

Book Review:

This was such a cute book! I haven’t read a lot of historical fiction lately, so it was fun to jump back into this genre. And I love the romcom vibe that comes along with Turano’s books. It is a Regency read with some modern romcom influences that I adore.

I had a harder time getting into the story for this one, but once I started really reading, I was hooked. I loved the craziness of the Season, and Turano masterfully crafts some hilarious events. Regency ladies were savage, and I loved how Gwendolyn was unfazed by everything they did.

Gwendolyn was amazing! She won me from the beginning. I loved her practicalness and her calm through all the crazy. She knew her worth, and she wasn’t about to let anyone push her around. And her banter with just about everyone was so great, especially Walter!

Walter had to grow on me a little bit. He was convinced that his role in life was to be a good businessman, so he had neglected his children. I love how Gwendolyn changed him though and opened his eyes to see his responsibility was first and foremost to his kids. But he won me over eventually, and even though he was a bit clueless, he had a good heart. He wanted to do the right thing, but he wasn’t sure what the right thing was.

I loved his kids so much ! They were such terrors yet sweethearts all at the same time. Oscar was so adorable! I loved how much he cared for the twins, and it was sweet to see their connection with Gwendolyn from the beginning.

I would definitely recommend this book! It is perfect for anyone who loves historical fiction or rom coms. It is a super cute read with plenty of crazy shenanigans and adorable moments 🙂

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Amelia Gray is Almost Okay

About the Book:

Title: Amelia Gray is Almost Okay
Author: Jessica Brody
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: March 28th, 2023
Genre: Children’s Fiction

When you can choose to be anyone, how do you know who you really are? From the author of Better You Than Me and I Speak Boy comes another fun and relatable book about new experiences and how staying true to yourself is the best way to be okay.

Twelve-year-old Amelia Gray has changed schools thirty-nine times (!!!) because of her dad’s job, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for making friends. But that’s okay. Amelia loves her “life on the go” with Dad and their adorable supermutt, Biscotti. She’s been in enough middle schools to know that friendships are messy, and who needs that?

But when her dad announces that he wants to stay in their new town for the whole summer—maybe even forever—Amelia realizes she’s going to have to do the one thing she’s never had to do: fit in.

So she gives herself not one but three total makeovers, to try out a few personalities and hopefully find her “thing.” Is she Amie, a confident track star? Mellie, a serious journalist? Or Lia, a bold theater kid?

Juggling three identities is hard, and Amelia soon finds herself caught in the kind of friendship drama she has always managed to avoid. Yet despite her best efforts, she still can’t answer the most important question of all: Who is the real Amelia Gray?

Book Review:

What an interesting read! Amelia Gray has seen the whole country. She has never stayed in one place for long and that’s how she likes it. All she needs is her dad and her dog, Biscotti, but what happens when her dad decides they should try life on the stay. Amelia is terrified, and so she decides to reinvent herself, 3 different Amelias for 3 different activities. She’s determined to figure out who she is: Amie, the confident tract star, Mellie, a serious journalist, or Lia, a bold theater kid? But as she goes along with her lies, she begins to get caught up in a whole web of trouble without answering the question: Who is Amelia Gray?

Okay, Amelia has gone through a lot. She just wants things to stay the same. I think kids will really identify with her as she tries to figure herself out. In middle school, all you want to know is who am I? And I love the message that this book gives which is you don’t need to have it all figured out. Amelia wants to know the one thing that defines her, and in the end, she sees she doesn’t need to choose one thing. But it takes a lot of heartache to see that.

And I think that goes into the next main thing which is friendship is hard. And I loved seeing that because it is hard to make friends and keep friends, and I loved watching Amelia learn how to reconcile with her friends and rebuild bridges. While I love all the messages in this book, I had a hard time staying invested. I think it felt a little young in some places, and I wasn’t super into the story.

But I think I would still recommend it to middle graders especially those who love contemporary fiction.

Highlights:

Importance of making friends

Light romance only

Strong relationship with dad

Traditional values

Importance of communication

Realizing you don’t need to have everything figured out yet

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li

About the Book:

It's Boba Time for Pearl Li! by [Nicole Chen]

Title:It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li
Author: Nicole Chen
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Release Date: February 28th, 2023
Genre: Children’s Fiction

erfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Jessica Kim, this joyful, moving middle grade contemporary follows a big-hearted Taiwanese American girl as she aims to gain her family’s acceptance and save her favorite boba tea shop by selling her handcrafted amigurumi dolls.

Pearl Li is ready to spend the summer before seventh grade hanging out with her two best friends, crocheting the cutest amigurumi dolls, and visiting her favorite tea shop, Boba Time. Its quirky owner, Auntie Cha, is the only adult Pearl can confide in about her art—if only her tech-obsessed family would understand her love of crafts!

After Pearl learns of Boba Time’s financial troubles, she decides to sell her amigurumi to raise money for the shop. But as she navigates the ups and downs of running a business, Pearl realizes that monetizing her passion is more complicated than she could’ve ever imagined. Can Pearl save Boba Time before it’s too late?

Book Review:

I’m so excited for this new wave of diverse middle grade fiction! I would have loved to read these books as a kid, and it’s incredibly important to see representation on the page. I also really loved how It’s Boba Time, Pearl Li does not focus on racism. Instead it’s about a normal American girl who is Taiwanese. It’s important to normalize MC of different ethnicities instead of shoving them into a box where their books can only be about racism.

It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li is about a seventh grade girl who discovers her favorite boba shop is about to close. She’s determined to help the owner, Auntie Cha, and decides to start her own business and sell amigurumi dolls. But running a business is more complicated than she thought. What happens when her friend and family drama get in the way of saving the boba shop?

I felt like Pearl was very relatable especially for middle school girls. She’s still trying to figure herself out and stand up for herself. She was also relatively selfish at times. I think that it was frustrating, but it also made sense for her age. She had to learn how to think about and consider others, and I loved watching her grow and mature. I think Chen did a great job of showing Pearl’s growth in her friendships and showing the importance of saying sorry when you mess up.

I loved her friends! I love the diversity in their group and also I loved watching them learn how to interact. Friendships are so hard especially in middle school, but it was cool to see a solid group of girlfriends with no romance! Definitely a fan of romance, but I think in middle school friendships are more important. Pearl also had to learn how to deal with family relationships.

I like learning about Pearl’s family and how different they all were. But I didn’t love how the family aspect was handled. Pearl ends up lying to her parents in the book, and in the end, her fault is glossed over. Chen focuses more on how her mother should have been more supportive of her crafts. I think there were definitely communication issues on both sides, but I would have liked to see equal responsibility taken from both sides. And it was odd to me how the dad in the story didn’t really have a role. He seemed to be there simply to be there, and while I admire the strong female relationships, I wanted to see his part in the family.

However, I did enjoy seeing the different dynamics. It felt really real, and I think it showed the importance again of good communication. There were a lot of great lessons in this book including one about business and entrepreneurship. However, the lessons felt natural, and they weren’t shoved down your throat.

I would definitely recommend this book to any tween girl! It’s a fun, clean, read about family, friends, and talking to your loved ones.

Highlights:

Strong female friendships

Sisterly bonds

Not judging others

Importance of communication

Racially diverse characters just going through life

Business/entrepreneurship lessons

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Merritt and Her Childhood Crush

About the Book:

Merritt and Her Childhood Crush: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (Oakley Island Romcoms Book 2) by [Jenny Proctor, Emma St. Clair]

Title: Merritt and Her Childhood Crush
Series: Oakley Islands Romcoms #2
Author: Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair
Release Date: January 31st, 2023
Genre: Closed Door Romantic Comedy

I said I’d never set foot on Oakley Island again. Not so long as HE lived there. But after my life implodes, I’m reconsidering EVERYTHING. Including my reasons for avoiding the first—and only—man I’ve ever loved.

I’m a high achiever. Driven. Maybe a little TOO driven.

So when my boyfriend confesses to cheating AND steals the promotion I’ve been working toward for years, I do the unthinkable for someone like me.

I break.

But the timing couldn’t be better for me to fall apart—I can escape to the idyllic Oakley Island and oversee the renovations on my late grandmother’s estate.

There’s just one tiny, massive, little problem: no one told me the contractor is the grown up version of the boy I fell in love with years ago.

He was my first love. My first kiss.

My first heartbreak.

Now, I’m faced with seeing Hunter daily. Being his boss. Forging a new dynamic that fits our adult selves.

Hunter is bigger. Bearded. Talks in grunts rather than words.

And has just as much hold on me as he ever did.

Trouble is, Hunter’s life is on Oakley. His daughter is on Oakley. And it was never my plan to stay here permanently.
Do I really want to risk having my heart broken a second time? More importantly, do I want to risk breaking his?

Merritt and Her Childhood Crush is a second chance at childhood first love romantic comedy. The Oakley Island Romcoms follow three very different sisters as they renovate the house they inherited and find love on the island along the way. The stories are standalone, but if you like continuous stories, we recommend reading them in order. Each book is closed door, with sizzling chemistry but no spice.

Book Review:

The Right Wrong Match

About the Book:

The Right Wrong Match: A Sweet, Small Town Romantic Comedy (Love in Mirror Valley Book 2) by [Sara Jane Woodley]

Title: The Right Wrong Match
Series: Love in Mirror Valley#2
Author: Sara Jane Woodley
Publisher: Eleventh Avenue Publishing Inc
Release Date: January 5th, 2023
Genre: Romantic Comedy

They say the best way to get over someone is to date somebody else.

I didn’t ask to have a hopeless (and unrequited) crush on my best friend’s grumpy older brother.

For years, I’ve had feelings for Luke Brooks, but it’s time to move on—I’m on a mission to find my perfect match and secure my very own happily-ever-after.

Until one tiny mishap with a dating app lands me a new job: Planning singles events for the whole town.

Which seems simple enough… until the town council forces Luke to play cupid with me.

And as I discover the soft side beneath Luke’s grumpy exterior, getting over my crush becomes a whole lot more complicated.

Especially as it’s starting to look like my feelings might not be so unrequited, after all…

The Right Wrong Match is a sweet romcom with plenty of swoony kisses and chemistry, a hilarious cast of quirky small-town characters, and a heartwarming HEA that’s sure to give you all the feel

Book Review:

This book was so cute! This was my first book by Woodley, but it definitely won’t be my last. I loved this grumpy sunshine read!

Daisy was such a sweetheart. I loved her eternal optimism, even when things were going crazy she looked on the bright side. Plus, it was hilarious to read about all of her different interactions, a little awkward at times but always fun! It was sweet to watch her really relax with Luke though. She let her guard down with him and was able to just breathe.

I loved Luke! He was such a grumpy cinnamon roll hero especially around Daisy. I love how he had such a soft spot for her, and it was cute to see him do all these ridiculous adorable things for her.

The plot of this was fantastic! I really like the fact that Luke and Daisy were friends first. It didn’t feel like they were rushing into a romance, but instead they were realizing what was right in front of them all along. I would have liked a little more development on a side plot that was happening. But I think romance was definitely the main thing for this book.

I would totally recommend this swoon worthy read! It is a clean romcom, and while it is set in a series, I did not read the first book, and still loved this one!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Dreaming About the Boy Next Door

About the Book:

Dreaming About the Boy Next Door (Most Likely To Book 2) by [Sarah Sutton]

Title: Dreaming About the Boy Next Door
Series: Most Likely To #2
Author: Sarah Sutton
Release Date: October 25th, 2022
Genre: YA

Is being voted Most Likely To: Never Have Their First Kiss by the popular crowd at school the end of the world? Probably not, but I’m still not convinced.

Does it mean that I have to find someone to kiss to ditch myself of the label? No, but I do it anyway.

Is choosing my best friend’s twin brother as my first kiss the best choice? Ha, not in the slightest. But when he walks into his kitchen after midnight shirtless, inspiration strikes.

Even though it’s a bad, bad idea.

Because what is supposed to be a quick, three-second peck of awkwardness in the middle of their dark kitchen turns into however many seconds of pure bliss. I’m talking the kind of kiss in a rom-com that totally would’ve made me blush. The kind that makes your toes curl.

For my first kiss ever, Reed Manning isn’t holding back.

Book Review:

Just have to warn you guys, this will basically just be me gushing 😉 I absolutely loved this book! I was honestly a little nervous because I really liked Falling for the Teacher’s Pet, but this was just amazing.

I loved getting to see more of Ava, and it was interesting to see her perspective. Dreaming About the Boy Next Door and Falling for the Teacher’s Pet are simultaneously occurring. I’ve read books like this before, and I’ve always found them fascinating. It really shows how we have no idea what someone is going through in a given day even if we’re close to them. I think Sutton does an amazing job with balancing this, so you still get to see some scenes from Ava’s perspective but there’s also a lot of new things going on.

I loved Ava! She was trying so hard to keep herself together, and she was falling apart. I loved her wittiness, but also her goofiness and drama. She’s definitely different than Maisie, and it was fun to see those differences. Her journey was beautifully done even though it hurt my heart a little bit.

Reed was so cute! He comes off as a bit of a jerk at first, but there’s so much going on underneath his playboy act. I like watching him and Ava open up to each other. They were both scared, yet they protected themselves in different ways. It was cute seeing them learn to trust each other even though they were trying not to trust each other.

The family aspect of this book was heartbreaking. It was so sad. Ava’s parents are going through a divorce, and Reed’s dad cheated. But I loved how Ava learned the importance of talking and being vulnerable. She had to see that she was allowed to be sad. And Reed learned how to open up his heart again and trust someone. It was totally adorable!

I loved this book! It can be read standalone, and I believe the order in which you read the books doesn’t really matter. It was fun though knowing all that was going on with Maisie while Ava was having her drama. I would recommend it to any clean, YA, romance lovers especially if you love the drama but don’t want the explicit stuff .

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Nico and Hope and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

About the Book:

Nico & Hope and a Partridge in a Pear Tree: Small town, feel good, romantic comedy (The Costa Brothers Cozy Christmas Comfort Romance Series Book 6) by [Ellie Hall]

Title: Nico and Hope and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
Series: The Costa Brothers Cozy Christmas Comfort Romance #6
Author: Ellie Hall
Release Date: December 15th, 2022
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Hope
My Cinderella story is stuck on the part before the fairy Godmother comes to her aid. You know, when the stepmother and sisters torment her. To appease them, I work four jobs with no magical transformations or windfalls in sight, especially not in time for Christmas.

Nico
When a singing Christmas-wish-o-gram girl does her charming song and dance, I have no doubt my brothers are behind the goofy gift. I’m the baby in the family, but by no means tiny. Sure, I’m the youngest and most inexperienced when it comes to women, but I can find my own dates, thanks very much.

Hope
The guy from the pizza shop who I accompanied to the Christmas Market in town was cute, sweet, and someone I wouldn’t mind seeing again if I had time for a life of my own—and wasn’t trying to stop a vandal from ruining our town’s Winter Wonderland extravaganza.

Nico
When it turns out she’s my neighbor and her stepmother and stepsisters are shrews, I do the only sensible thing—offer to be her fake husband to free her from their clutches. Unfortunately, I’ve never kissed a woman. She’s quick to give me lessons, and I’m starting to think there’s nothing fake about this. Nothing at all.

Book Review:

The baby finally gets his own book! I loved Nico from the beginning of the Costa brothers series, so I was so excited when he finally got his own HEA!

Poor Nico has been stuck in his brother’s shadows for years. It was fun to finally see him. I think every book we get to see the brothers in a different way, and this one is no different. I loved the little awkwardness that was still in this book, but it was fun to see a confident Nico too. He was ready to stand up for Hope, and it was simply too cute!

I love Hope! I think her situation made a lot of sense, and while it was frustrating to see her get walked over, I also understood why she stayed with her stepfamily. I loved how she kept her spirits up and refused to be crushed. But she did have to learn to stand up for herself and learn to trust others again.

I loved this quick read! It does progress fast which was a little hard for me, but it is a novella 🙂 Nico and Hope have a case of love at first sight, but it also fits for them. They’re both more innocent characters, Nico hasn’t even had his first kiss yet, and I think the love at first sight trope really worked for them.

I would totally recommend this entire series but especially this book! I think this might be my favorite so far. It is a clean romance perfect for this Christmas month!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.